Today is the big day to update your Mac OS X operating system for free to the latest release called Mavericks, or version 10.9. The 5.28GB download will take about 45 minutes to download (remember, no DVD media), then installing and restarting another 45 minutes or so. Apple claims some 200 improvements with this version of Mac OS X, so you can get a better idea of specifics here or at the Apple site here.

Free Download

Starting Install

EULA

Agree with EULA

Intall here

Password Please

Installing

Restart

Close Apps

Installing after Restart

Installed

On my setup there are two external monitors and with Mavericks it added a menubar to each external monitor. I can see how some users would welcome that, however for me I want the maximum screen space available so I figures out how to turn off menubars for external monitors right away. My first external monitor is just as fast as the laptop display, however my second external monitor is connected to the USB port with a device made by Diamond using software called DisplayLink, which is now dog slow. So I’ll have to wait for an updated version of DisplayLink to get back some of the lost speed.

Most of the changes that I see with Mavericks are cosmetic, reminding me of the recent iOS7 update for the iPad.

Go ahead, update to the latest Mac OS X, just pick a time maybe near the end of your work day, or when you can be doing something else productive for awhile during the installation process.